Stefan Maderwald1,2, Stephan Orzada1,2, Lena C. Schfer1,2, Andreas K. Bitz1,2, Irina Brote1,2, Oliver Kraff1,2, Jens M. Theysohn1,2, Mark E. Ladd1,2, Susanne C. Ladd1,2, Harald H. Quick1,2
1Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, Essen, Germany; 2Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
High-field MRI at 7 Tesla inherently offers high signal-to-noise (SNR) and enhanced soft tissue contrasts when compared to 1.5 T or even 3 T MRI, which might improve image quality in selected imaging applications in humans. The increased SNR is in particular potentially beneficial for high-resolution cardiac MRI. In order to exploit the full potential for cardiac MRI at 7 T, a number of artifacts and imaging constraints related to 7 T have to be overcome. In this study four volunteers were imaged with a flexible 8-channel transmit/receive body coil to evaluate potential advantages and disadvantages specifically associated with cardiac MR imaging at this high field strength.